Dickens — Dick ens, n. or interj. [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.] The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.] [1913 Webster] I can not tell what the dickens his name is. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

dickens — exclamation, 1590s, apparently a substitute for devil; probably altered from Dickon, nickname for RICHARD (Cf. Richard) and source of the surnames Dickens and Dickenson, but exact derivation and meaning are unknown … Etymology dictionary

dickens — ► NOUN informal ▪ used to express annoyance or surprise when asking questions: what the dickens is going on? ORIGIN a euphemism for «devil» … English terms dictionary

dickens — [dik′ənz] n. [prob. &LT; Dickon, nickname for RICHARD1] [Old Brit. Slang] devil; deuce: used, with the, only in interjectional phrases, as a mild oath or exclamation of annoyance, surprise, or frustration [what the dickens is that about?] … English World dictionary